Electromagnetically actuated swinging cradle



ELECTROMAGNETICALLY ACTUATED SWINGING CRADLE Filed 001.. 21, 1964 July 19, 1966 R. F. REARDON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

RICHARD F- REARDON Huh 6 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,261,032 ELECTROMAGNETIC ALLY ACTUATED SWINGING CRADLE Richard F. Reardon, 13242 Common St., Warren, Mich.

Filed Oct. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 405,485 Claims. (Cl. 5-108) The present invention relates to cradles or cribs for children and more particularly to an improved means of providing a pendulum type swinging motion to such cradles or cribs.

Heretofore various types of swinging cradles or cribs have been proposed. Many of these have taken the form of motor driven or mechanically actuated means for producing the swinging motion to the cradle. Such swinging cradles have been rather complex in construction and therefore costly to manufacture. Also no actuating means for swinging cradles has been heretofore proposed which would permit the arc of swinging movement to be readily adjusted.

U.S. Patent No. 1,727,635 issued to Samuel G. Crane .on September 10, 1929, discloses an automatic swinging crib in which an electromagnetic coil is energized to exert a magnetic pull on an armature during swinging movement of the crib. In this way the loss of momentum is the backward swing of the crib is overcome in the forward swing thereof so that the crib will continue to automatically swing as long as means are provided for energizing the coil. The particular construction of the armature of the apparatus disclosed in the Crane patent, however, is quite complicated and requires several pivotal and hinged connections to maintain the armature rod in a horizontal position during swinging movement of the crib structure. No means are provided in the structure disclosed by Crane for adjusting the extent of the swing of the crib structure.

The present invention provides an electrically actuated swinging cradle in which an armature is carried on an arcuately formed rod. The armature is positioned to pass through an electromagnetic coil as the crib structure is swinging in a pendulum type movement. By using an arcuately formed rod for carrying the armature all pivotal and hinge connections for the armature have been eliminated thus substantially reducing the cost of the apparatus and increasing its reliability. Further, means are provided in the apparatus of the present invention for varying the arc of movement of the crib structure.

It is an object then of the present invention to improve swinging cradles by providing a simply constructed yet highly reliable actuating means for such cradles.

It is another object of the present invention to reduce the cost of producing self-swinging cradles and the like by providing an actuating means for such cradles comprising an electromagnet, a magnetic armature member, an arcuate rod carrying the armature, and means energizing the electromagnet to attract the plunger and thereby produce swinging movement of the cradle.

It is still another object of the present invention to improve actuating mechanism for swinging cradles and the like by providing such mechanism with means permitting the arc of movement to be readily adjusted.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will readily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the following drawings illustrating one preferred embodiment of the present invention and in which like reference characters refer to like parts'throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a preferred cradle of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary lateral cross-sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 and with portions shown broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially at line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially at line 55 of FIG. 4 and enlarged somewhat for purposes of clarity; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1.

Description Now referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the present invention, FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment as comprising a crib or cradle structure generally indicated at 10 and mounted on a support structure generally indicated at 12.

The crib or cradle structure 10 preferably comprises a pair of side walls 14 and a pair of end walls 16. The adjacent corners of the end walls 16 and the side walls 14 are preferably connected by corner members 18. Each of the corner members 18 is provided with a downwardly extending outwardly diverging portion 20. A floor member 22 is carried within the space defined by the end walls 16 and the side walls 14. An eye member 24 is carried at the upper edge of ea-ch'of the end Walls 16 substantially midway between the side walls 14,

The support member 12 preferably comprises a pair of spaced upright supports 26 each secured respectively to a supporting base 28. A pair of spaced longitudinally extending cross supports 30 are secured to the lower lateral edge of the upright supports 26. Each of the upright supports 26 preferably carries a hook member 32.

The crib or cradle structure 10 is adapted to be carried by the support structure 12 with the eye members 24 engaging over the hook members 32. With the crib structure 10 carried in this manner it is to be noted that the lower edges of the portions 20 are positioned above the base supports 28 so that the crib structure 10 is free to swing about the hook members 32 in a pendulum type movement.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, one of the upright supports 26 carries a control box 34 adjacent its lower edge. A hollow electromagnetic coil 36 is carried intermediate the cross support members 30 closely adjacent the control box 34. A pair of arcuate parallel rods 38 and 40 are carried intermediate the downwardly extending portions 20 of the corner members 18 at that end of the crib structure 10 adjacent the control box 34. The rods 38 and 40 are carried by the cradle structure 10 in a position substantially co-planar with the direction of swinging movement of the cradle structure 10. The rod 38 extends through the hollow electromagnet 36 and is formed on a radius that will permit it to pass freely through the fixed electromagnet 36 throughout the extent of swinging movement of the cradle structure 10. The rod 40 is disposed slightly above the rod 38 in a position intermediate the electromagnet 36 and the control box 34. An arcuate guide rod 42 is provided on the opposite end of the crib structure 10 and is carried by the downwardly extending portions 20. The guide rod 42 extends through openings 44 provided in the cross supports 30. A weight 45 may if desired be carried on the rod 42.

The electric current for energizing the electromagnetic coil 36 is supplied by a cable 47 which by means of a plug 46 may be connected to the conventional wire system of the average home. As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the cable 47 is made of two wires 49 and 48. The wire 48 is connected directly to the electromagnetic coil 36 and the wire 49 is connected to the electromagnetic coil through a switching means generally indicated at 50.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 the switching means 50 preferably comprises a pair of leaf members 52 and 54 each carrying an electrical contact 56 and 58 respectively. A bracket 60 carrying the leaf members 52 and S4 maintains the contacts 56 and 58 in a normally open position.

A cam member 62 is rotatably carried by the control box 34 by means of a pin 64. A spring 66, as can best be seen in FIG. 4, is staked to the control box 34 and the cam 62 to resist rotational movement of the cam member 62 about the axis of the pin 64. The cam member 62 is provided with a flattened portion 68 and the spring 66 urges the cam member 62 to a position in which the flattened portion is adjacent the contacts 56 and 58 so that in this position the cam member 62 does not engage with the contacts 56 and 58. Upon rotation of the cam member 62 the arcuate edge of the cam member 62 is brought into engagement with the contact member 58 and urges the contact member 58 upwardly against the contact member 56 to close the switching means 50. A control rod 70 is fixed to the cam member 62 and extends downwardly therefrom. A lever member 72 is pivotally secured to the free end of the control rod 70 by means of a pivot pin 74, as can best be seen in FIG. 5. A stop pin 76 is provided on the control box 34 in a position to limit pivotal movement of the control rod 70 in one direction.

The rod 40 carries an actuating member 78 in a position to engage the lever 72 upon swinging movement of the crib or cradle structure 10. As can best be seen in FIG. 6, the actuating member 78 is axially adjustably movable along the rod 40 by means of a collar 79 anda set screw 81. As can best be seen in FIG. 2 the rod 38 carries an elongated arcuately formed armature member 80 of a magnetic material and dimensioned to pass through the electromagnetic coil 36. As will be more clear as the description proceeds, the rod 38 is constructed of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum or the like.

In operation with the plug 46 inserted in a suitable source of electrical power an initial manual swinging motion is imparted to the cradle or crib structure 10. With the switching means 50 in a normally open position the coil 36 is normal-1y de-energized. As the plunger 80 moves through the coil 36 from right to left as seen in FIG. 2, the actuating member 78 engages the lever 72 to move the control rod 70 and cam member 62 about the pin 64 in a clockwise direction. Rotation of the cam member 62 causes the contact member 58 to be moved upwardly into engagement with the contact member 56 as illustrated in FIG. 2, thus closing the circuit to energize the electromagnetic coil 36. Energization of the electromagnetic coil 36 produces a force of attraction causing the armature member 80 to be pulled into the hollow center of the coil 36. Just as the armature member 80 is centered in the electromagnetic coil 36, the actuating member 78 passes beneath the slightly pivoted lever 72 and spring 66 returns the cam member 62 to its original position to permit contacts 56 and 58 to return to an open position and thus deenergizing the coil 36. Thus when the armature member 80 is starting to move arcuately out of the electromagnetic coil 36 there is no force of attraction tending to pull the armature member 80 back again through the coil member 36.

The actuating member 78 will again engage the lever 72 upon return movement of the cradle or crib structure 10. It has been found however that it is necessary only to energize the coil 36 upon movement of the crib or cradle structure in one direction to produce a continued pendulum type swinging movement of the cradle structure. The switching means 50 therefore remains open upon return movement of the crib or cradle structure 10. As the actuating member 79 engages the lever 72 upon return movement, the stop member 76 prevents the control rod 70 and thus the cam 62 from rotating about the pin 64 so that the contacts 56 and 58 remain open. To permit the actuating member 78 to pass through the control lever 72, the lever 72 is constructed with an angular land 82 as illustrated in FIG. 5 to permit it to pivot freely in a counterclockwise direction about pivot 74 while limiting pivotal movement in a clockwise direction so that upon return movement of the crib or cradle structure, the arm member 72 will be pivoted counterclockwise about the pin 74 to permit the actuating member 78 to pass beneath the arm member 72.

It is apparent that a swinging cradle has been described which utilizes relatively simply constructed actuating means so that a substantial reduction in manufacturing costs is realized. By providing the particular arcuate construction of the rod 38, the necessity of pivotal and hinged connections for the armature rod have been eliminated. Unlike previous cradle actuating mechanisms, the apparatus of the present invention provides a means for controlling the amount of swing produced by the actuating means. This can be accomplished by changing the position of the actuating member 78 by moving the collar 79 to a new position along the rod 40. As the actuating member 78 is moved to the left as seen in FIG. 2 it permits the plunger member 80 to move farther into the coil 36 before the coil 36 is energized. The total attractive force on the armature member 80 will therefore be less and the amount of swing will be less. Maximum swing is produced when the coil 36 is energized just as the armature member 80 enters the coil 36.

It is also apparent that although I have described but a single embodiment of my invention many changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an automatic swinging cradle, means for imparting swinging movement to said cradle comprising (a) an electromagnet adapted for connection to a source of electrical power,

(b) a normally open switch means connected intermediate said source of electrical power and said electromagnet,

(c) a first and a second arcuate r-od secured to said cradle in the plane of swinging thereof,

(d) an armature carried by said first rod in a position to move into the magnetic field of said electromagnet during swinging movement of said cradle, and

(e) means carried by said second rod for actuating said switching means as said armature moves into the magnetic field of said electromagnet.

2. An automatic swinging cradle comprising (a) a support structure, a cradle structure, and means mounting said cradle structure to said support structure for swinging movement of said cradle structure,

(b) an electromagnet carried by said support structure and adapted for connection to a source of electrical power,

(c) an arcuate rod secured to said cradle structure in the plane of swinging movement thereof,

((1) an armature carried by said rod in a position to move into the magnetic field of said electromagnet during swinging movement ofsaid cradle structure,

(e) means actuating said electromagnet only during movement of said armature into the magnetic field of said electromagnet,

(f) said actuating means comprising a normally open switch means connected intermediate said source of electrical power and said electromagnet,

a first actuating member pivotably secured to said support structure, a second actuating member carried by said cradle structure in a position to engage said first member during swinging movement of said cradle structure, and means operably connecting said first member to said switch means to close said switch means upon pivotable movement of said first member in one direction.

3. The swinging cradle as defined in claim 2 and in which said switch means comprises a pair of normally open contacts, and said last mentioned means comprises (a) a rotatably mounted cam member having a camming surface engaging said contacts .to close same upon rotatable movement of said cam member to a first position and to permit said contacts to open upon rotatable movement, of said cam member to a second position,

(b) means: urging said cam member toward said second position, and

(c) said first actuating member being fixed to said cam member to rotate same toward said first position upon being engaged by said second actuating member.

4. In an automatic swinging cradle, means for imparting swinging movement to said cradle comprising,

(a) an electromagnet adapted for connection to a source of electrical power,

(b) an arcuate rod secured .to said cradle in the plane of the swinging movement thereof,

(c) an armature carried by said rod in a position to move into and out of the magnetic field of said electromagne't during swinging movement of said cradle.

(d) means "energizing said electromagnet only during movement of said armature into the magnetic field of said electromagnet,

(e) said energizing means comprising a normally open switch means connected intermediate said source of electrical power and said electromagnet, and an actuating means operable to close said switch means at a predetermined position of said cradle, and

(f) said actuating means comprising a second arcuate rod secured to said cradle in the plane of swinging movement thereof, an actuating member carried by said second rod, said switch means including a pair of normally open contacts and a pivotally mounted member operable upon being pivoted in one direction to close said contacts, and said pivotable member being disposed to be engaged by said actuating member upon swinging movement of said cradle to a predetermined position whereby said pivotable member is pivoted to close said contacts.

5. In an automatic swinging cradle, means for imparting swinging movement to said cradle comprising,

(a) an electromagnet adapted for connection to a source of electrical power,

(b) an arcuate rod secured to said cradle in the plane of the swinging movement thereof,

(c) an armature carried by said rod in a position to move into and out of the magnetic field of said electromagnet during swinging movement of said cradle,

(d) a normally open switch means connected intermediate said source of electrical power and said electromagnet,

(e) a second arcuate rod secured to said cradle in the plane of swinging movement thereof,

(f) an actuating member carried by said second rod, (g) said switch means including a pair of normally open contacts and a pivotally mounted member operable upon being pivoted in one direction to close said contacts, and

(h) said pivotable member being disposed to be engaged by said actuating member upon swinging movement of said cradle to a predetermined position whereby said pivotable member is pivoted to close said contacts.

6. In an automatic swinging cradle, means for imparting swinging movement to said cradle comprising (a) an electromagnet adapted for connection to a source of electrical power,

(b) a normally open switch means connected intermediate said source of electrical power and said electromagnet,

(c) a first arcuate rod secured to said cradle in a position to move in a plane upon swinging movement of said cradle, and a second arcuate rod secured to said cradle in a position to move in a plane upon swinging movement of said cradle,

(d) an armature carried by said first rod in a position ltO move into the magnetic field of said electromagnet during swinging movement of said cradle, and

(e) means carried by said second rod for actuating said switch means as said armature moves into the magnetic field of said electromagnet.

7. The means as defined in claim 1 and in which (a) said actuating means comprises an actuating member carried by said second rod, and

(b) said switch means comprises a pair of normally open contacts connected intermediate said source of electrical power and said electromagnet, a pivotably mounted member carried in a fixed position to be engaged by said actuating member at a predetermined position of swinging movement of said cradle, and means operably connecting said pivotable member to said contacts to close said contacts upon pivotable movement of said pivotable member in one direction.

8. In an automatic swinging cradle, means for impar-ting swinging movement to said cradle comprising,

(a) a hollow electromagnet carried in a fixed position and adapted for connection to a source of electrical power,

(b) an arcuate rod secured to said cradle in the plane of swinging movement thereof and in a position to pass through said hollow electromagnet,

(c) an armature carried by said rod in a position to move through said electromagnet and therefore into and out of the magnetic field of said electromagnet,

(d) said energizing means comprising a normally open switch means connected intermediate said source of electrical power and said electromagnet,

an actuating means operable to close said switch means at a predetermined position of said cradle, and

(e) said actuating means comprising a second arcuate rod secured to said cradle in the plane of swinging movement thereof,

an actuating member carried by said second rod,

(f) said switch means including a pair of normally open contacts and a pivotally mounted member operable upon being pivoted in one direction to close said contacts,

(g) said pivotally mounted member being disposed to be engaged by said actuating member upon swinging movement of said cradle to a predetermined position whereby said pivotally mounted member is pivoted to close said contacts.

9. The cradle as defined in claim 8 and including means adjustably mounting said armature on said rod.

10. An automatic swinging cradle comprising (a) a support structure, a cradle structure, and means mounting said cradle structure to said support structure for swinging movement of said cradle structure,

(b) a hollow electromagnet carried by said support structure and adapted for connection to a source of electrical power,

(c) an arcuate rod secured to said cradle structure in the plane of swinging movement thereof and in a position to be moved through said hollow magnet during swinging movement of said cradle structure,

(d) an armature carried by said rod in a position to move through said electromagnet and therefore into the magnetic field of said electromagnet during swinging movement of said cradle structure,

(e) means actuating said elcctromagnet only during movement of said armature into the magnetic field of said electromagnet, said means comprising,

a normally open switch means connected intermediate said source of electrical power and said electromagnet,

a first actuating member pivotably secured to said support structure,

a second actuating member carried by said cradle structure in a position to engage said first actuating member during swinging movement of said cradle structure, and

means operably connecting said first actuating member to said switch means to close said switch means upon pivotal movement of said first actuating member in one direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 329,279 11/1920 Germany.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC SWINGING CRADLE, MEANS FOR IMPARTING SWINGING MOVEMENT TO SAID CRADLE COMPRISING (A) AN ELECTROMAGNET ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER, (B) A NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH MEANS CONNECTED INTERMEDIATE SAID SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND SAID ELECTROMAGNET, (C) A FIRST AND A SECOND ARCUATE ROD SECURED TO SAID CRADLE IN THE PLANE OF SWINGING THEREOF, (D) AN ARMATURE CARRIED BY SAID FIRST ROD IN A POSITION TO MOVE INTO THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF SAID ELECTROMAGNET DURING SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID CRADLE, AND (E) MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SECOND ROD FOR ACTUATING SAID SWITCHING MEANS AS SAID ARMATURE MOVES INTO THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF SAID ELECTROMAGNET. 